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UN,  VERS.  TV      OF      .LL.NO.S     BULLETIN 

Issued  Weekly 

.    „,                                                      June  1,  1914 
Vol>  XI                                            r,      mW  ,i     1912    at  the  post  office  at  Urbana,  Illinois,  undei 
Entered  as  second-class  matter  Dewmberjl^,  rtttefo  — 


AN 


ALUMNI  GREGORY  MEMORIAL 


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AN 


ALUMNI  GREGORY  MEMORIAL 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


MEMORIAL  BUILDING  AND  ART  COLLECTION 


JUNE,   1914 


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a. 


AN  ALUMNI  GREGORY  MEMORIAL 


THE  NEED  APPRECIATED 

It  is  agreed  among  those  concerned  that  some  suitable  testimonial 
should  be  instituted  or  erected  on  the  University  campus,  in  honor  of 
the  man,  who  more  than  any  one  else,  and  in  a  large  sense  more  than  all 
others,  laid  the  foundations  as  they  were  laid,  and  in  the  earlier  years 
shaped  the  character  and  scope  of  the  institution  which  has  developed 
into  the  University  of  Illinois  as  we  know  it — Doctor  John  Milton 
Gregory,  the  fii'st  Regent  (President). 

He  was  elected  to  his  high  office  March  12,  1867,  and  served  with 
great  distinction  and  winsome  favor  until  September  1,  1880,  when  he 
resigned  because  his  strength  seemed  to  him  unequal  to  the  burden  he 
had  assumed  and  appeared  inevitable  while  he  continued  in  the  position. 

This  is  not  the  place  for  an  historic  account,  but  it  is  becoming  to 
say  that  what  transpired  in  those  early  years  is  now  recognized  in 
wonderful  accomplishments.  Out  of  a  chaos  of  ideas,  of  widely  divergent, 
mostly  crudely  formed  ideals,  confusedly  entangled,  the  old  with  the 
new,  the  good  with  the  bad,  the  possible  with  the  impracticable,  the 
personal  with  the  patriotic — there  came  forth  clearly  formulated  plans, 
splendidly  organized  procedures,  richly  prophetic  beginnings,  which  in 
their  fair  developments  makes  the  institution  what  it  is  today.  In  the 
preparation  for  the  remarkable  results  which  have  followed,  there  was 
in  it  all  and  thru  it  all,  one  inspired  and  inspiring  voice,  one  towering 
leadership,  one  man  who  devised  and  directed,  one  who  eloquently 
pleaded  when  oratory  was  effective,  one  who  vigorously  battled  when 
contests  Were  unavoidable.  Let  any  one  unfamiliar  with  the  inner 
history  of  the  period,  read  the  paper  prepared  by  Doctor  Gregory,  called 
the  "Report  of  the  Committee  on  Courses  of  Study"  etc.,  published  in 
the  First  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  to  find  at  once  the 
masterly  mind  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  new  institution  during  the 
pregnant  years  of  its  organization  and  development — years  and  activities 
whose  influence  has  mightily  affected  the  whole  subsequent  character 
and  life  of  the  University,  if  indeed  they  are  not  responsible  for  its  very 
existence  as  such. 

It  is  to  this  man  whose  memory  we  venerate  and  love ;  this  maker, 
this  master ;  this  founder,  this  fabricator ;  this  pilot,  this  captain ;  this 
father,  this  friend — to  whom  we  the  inheritors  of  the  fruits  of  his  genius 
and  of  his  devoted  labors,  propose  to  provide  something  commemerative 
of  his  service,  his  consuming  devotion,  his  prevailing  power. 

The  University  of  Illinois  is  not,  Ave  may  assume,  in  dire  need  of 
money,  insatiable  as  is  the  absorbing  maw  and  efficient  as  is  its  financial 
digestion.  But  the  institution  is  a  human  one,  it  is  founded  on  human 
needs,  and  thrives  only  as  it  touches  human  sympathies  and  desires,  only 

3 


as  it  satisfies  human  aspirations  and  wins  human  affections.    Fortunaterj 

it  lias  great  wealth  of  this  kind,  much  more  than  that  represented  if  they 
could  be  compared  in  financial  exhibits.  It  is  probably  true  that  the 
University  of  Illinois  leads  significantly  in  this  respect  among  others  of 
its  kind.  There  is  rich  abundance  of  good  will,  loyal  devotion, 
stimulating  pride,  affectionate  regard. 

There  is  little  however  to  give  tangible  or  visible  evidence  of  this 
its  best  asset,  little  to  give  expression  to  the  existing  wealth  of  esteem  and 
love,  little  to  demonstrate  that  the  wise  counsels  and  devoted,  often 
heroic  labors  of  founders  and  builders  are  recognized  or  appreciated. 
Kind  words,  glowing  eulogies,  are  very  good  so  far  as  they  go,  but  when 
at  their  best  they  leave  entirely  untouched  another  form  of  expression 
embodied  in  material  monuments.  This  is  widely  understood  and  people 
everywhere  obey  their  best  impulses  and  noblest  instincts  in  erecting 
statues  and  building  permanent  memorial  structures  associated  with 
great  movements  and  dedicated  to  great  men.  That  there  is  not  more 
of  it,  usually  comes  from  the  want  of  collective  endeavor.  It  is  hard  to 
get  minds  united,  preferences  pooled,  sentiments  centralized.  This  has 
been  true  with  us.    The  story  in  a  few  words  may  be  given  as  follows, — 

HISTORY   OF    MOVEMENT 

There  was  wide  appreciation  of  the  work  and  influence  of  Doctor 
Gregory  in  the  earlier  years ;  but,  especially  from  the  time  the  grave  was 
made  upon  the  campus,  the  thought  was  often  expressed  that  some 
suitable  testimonial  should  be  erected  to  the  man  whose  remains  rest 
therein.  This  feeling  all  along  was  a  general  one,  concurred  in  by 
officials,  advocated  by  alumni,  urged  by  friends,  shared  by  students  as 
year  by  year  they  came  and  went,  and  favored  by  interested  people  at 
home  and  abroad.  The  sentiment  grew  with  the  passing  years,  especially 
among  alumni,  until  at  length  a  conference,  previously  arranged  for, 
was  called  on  Alumni  day  1912,  resulting  in  a  canvass  to  ascertain 
further  what  members  of  the  Alumni  Association  thought  should  and 
could  be  done  by  themselves.  In  the  mean  time  Mr.  Homer  A.  Stillwell 
of  Chicago,  ex- '82,  who  upon  a  visit  had  sought  out  the  grave  and  was 
touched  by  the  small  prominence  given  to  it,  offered  to  contribute  a 
goodly  named  sum  towards  a  suitable  memorial.  This  stimulated  action 
and  the  committee  reported  to  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Association,  in  dune  1913,  that  the  feeling  was  very  prevalent  and 
almost  unanimous  that  something  should  be  done  by  the  alumni.  The 
amount  of  money  suggested  was  most  commonly  put  from  $25,000 
to  $50,000. 

The  Executive  Committee  referred  the  report  to  the  Alumni  Council 
and  by  this  body  it  was  referred  to  the  new  Executive  Committee  with 
the  recommendation  that  a  special  Gregory  memorial  committee  be 
appointed,  with  Mi-.  S.  A.  Bullard  as  chairman,  to  take  the  matter  in 
charge.  This  new  Executive  Committee  again  favored  action,  approved 
the  recommendation  of  the  Council  and  instructed  the  President  of  the 
Association  to  appoint  the  proposed  memorial  committee  and  also  to 
call  into  conference  the  President  of  the  University,  that  of  the  Board 

4 


of  Trustees,  the  chairman  of  the  Trustees'  Committee  on  Buildings  and 
Grounds,  the  members  of  the  Alumni  Executive  Committee,  those  of  the 
Memorial  Committee  and  Professors  Burrill  and  White. 

After  some  unavoidable  delays  this  Conference  was  called  by 
Mr.  Bollard,  now  President  of  the  Alumni  Association,  for  May  2,  1914, 
at  the  University,  to  discuss  the  whole  matter  and  to  decide  if  possible 
upon  some  definite  form  of  memorial  structure. 

When  the  meeting  was  called  to  order  there  were  present  the 
following  named  delegates : 

President  James 

President  W.  L.  Abbott  and  Mr.  0.  W.  Hoit  of  the  Board  of 

Trustees 
Professors  Burrill,  Baker,  and  White  of  the  Faculty,  and 
President  Bullard  and  Messrs.  J.  E.  Armstrong,  H.  M.  Dunlap, 

F.    L.    Hatch    and    Peter    Junkersfeld    of    the    Alumni 

Association. 
Those  absent  were : 

Professor  Talbot,   Messrs.   H.  J.  Burt,  J.  N.   Chester,   E.  G. 

Graham,  J.  C.  Llewellyn,  J.  A.  Ockerson  and  Lorado  Taft. 

CONFERENCE  AND  COMMITTEE   ACTION 

After  full  discussion  during  which  many  suggestions  were  made, 
often  widely  different  in  character,  unanimous  agreement  was  at  length 
reached  and  all  voted  for  the  following  resolution : 

"Resolved,  that  the  memorial  to  be  erected  to  Dr.  Gregory  on  the 
University  campus  be  a  Gregory  Memorial  Building  and  Art  Collection, 
that  $150,000  be  raised  for  the  purpose,  and  that  the  University  Trustees 
be  requested  to  assign  a  site  for  the  building  south  of  Lincoln  Hall,  west 
of  the  Auditorium  and  facing  the  site  chosen  for  the  new  Library 
building. ' ' 

Later,  on  the  same  day,  the  recommendation  of  the  Conference  was 
approved  by  the  memorial  committee  and  Dr.  T.  J.  Burrill  was  appointed 
director  of  a  campaign  with  Messrs.  Bullard,  Baker  and  Dunlap  as  a 
subcommittee,  to  carry  the  proposition  into  effect. 

It  was  a  great  step  forward  to  gain  this  unanimous  agreement  on  the 
part  of  the  committee  and  the  designation  so  clearly  marked  of  the  kind 
and  cost  of  a  memorial.  The  site  selected  is  for  one  of  the  major  campus 
buildings,  near  the  center  of  things  as  the  campus  develops. 

EXPLANATIONS 

By  the  help  of  the  accompanying  plates  the  location  and 
surroundings  can  be  easily  made  out.  Plate  I.  shows,  on  a  small  scale, 
the  arrangements  of  the  present  buildings  and  wonderful  suggestions  for 
future  ones.  Along  the  west  side  south  of  Green  street  occur  in  order: 
the  Library  Building  (with  a  new  extension  on  the  south),  the  Commerce 
Building  (only  the  east  half  now  up),  the  Womans'  Building,  Lincoln 
Hall  (east  half  now  existing),  and  the  proposed  Gregory  Memorial 
Building,  with  the  Auditorium  directly  east,  across  Burrill  avenue. 
Facing  this  Memorial  building  on  the  south  is  the  proposed  new  library 

5 


structure,  marked  8  on  the  plate,  while  the  new  Armory,  marked  7,  is 
Been  on  the  west. 

We  cannot  follow  further  here  a  description  of  the  parts  of  the  new 
campus,  hut  this  plate  gives  evidence  enough  of  the  future  outlook  and 
shows  the  centralized  location  of  the  coming  memorial  building. 

Turning  to  Plate  II.,  a  better  understanding  of  the  proposed  building 
site  and  its  immediate  relations  can  be  gained,  for  this  shows  on  a  larger 
scale  this  portion  of  the  campus.  In  the  center  is  the  Auditorium  with 
a  proposed  addition,  in  lighter  shade,  on  the  south.  This  latter  faces  an 
open  park,  with  Burrill  avenue  on  the  west  and  a  similar  new  avenue  on 
tlie  east,  and  between  the  building  and  the  park  is  the  proposed  Armory 
avenue,  crossing  the  campus  east  and  west  with  provisions  for  the  street 
railroad  in  a  subway. 

Note  the  L-shaped  building  sites  on  either  sides  of  the  Auditorium — 
that  on  the  east  suggested  for  the  School  of  Music,  that  westward  for  the 
Gregory  Memorial.  The  east  and  west  extension  of  the  latter  is  the  part 
now  in  question  with  the  shadowy  expectation  that  some  day  the  name 
will  apply  to  a  structure  occupying  this  whole  area. 

The  building  now  under  special  consideration  has  on  the  ground 
plan  presented  on  Plate  II.,  a  length  of  186  feet  and  a  width  of  66  feet 
(at  the  eastern  end),  and  is  to  be  3  stories  in  height,  with  south  face 
somewhat  as  shown  in  Plate  III.  The  north  face  will  have  similar 
treatment,  making  a  dignified,  noble  appearing  structure,  admirably 
suited  to  the  site  and  to  the  proposed  use. 

As  previously  remarked  the  Alumni  Association  and  the  special 
cause  it  here  espouses  are  extremely  fortunate  in  having  available  this 
very  acceptable,  help-inspiring  site,  and  the  Association  is  fortunate  too 
in  tlie  selection  of  the  kind  of  a  memorial  which  can  never  grow  old,  but 
which  must  grow  in  interest  and  value  as  time  passes.  With  a  good  and 
safe  place  for  their  exhibition  and  preservation,  richly  valued  additions 
will  constantly  be  made  to  the  art  treasures,  while  older  possessions 
will  yearly  gain  in  value  as  they  pass  from  existing  to  historic 
representations. 

Further  to  explain  the  relations  of  the  proposed  building  with  those 
immediately  adjoining,  Plates  IV.  and  V.  are  added  showing  respectively 
the  Auditorium  and  Lincoln  Hall  as  they  appear  from  a  point  in  the 
open  space  in  front  of  both  buildings.  From  this  same  viewpoint  the 
northeast  perspective  of  the  Memorial  Building  will  show  between  the 
others.  Tins  will  be  understood  if  on  turning  again  to  Plate  II.  the 
point  of  view  is  located  as  designated  and  sight  be  directed  to  the 
southwest. 

This  association  of  buildings  must  impress  everyone  favorably 
concerning  present  conditions  of  things  and  nothing  can  better  be 
suggested  toward  insurance  of  undated  permanence  and  stability, 
whatever  follows  in  campus  development  and  whoever  follows  in 
('Diversity  management. 

The  name  Gregory  can  never  be  lost  to,  or  eclipsed  in,  University 
history,  hut  whether  or  not  it  ever  becomes  comparatively  less  important, 
the  memorial   which   had   its  inseption  in  the  Conference  Resolution  of 

6 


May  2,  1<)14.  will  stand  as  well  for  other  illustrious  names  and  for  the 
great  deeds  that  find  place  in  the  perennial  freshness  of  grateful 
appreciation.  The  structure  and  its  contents  is  to  be  of  a  general 
memorial  character  for  all  time  and  for  all  worthy  interests. 

THE  OLD   ART  GALLERY 

Those  of  the  older  days  well  remember  the  Art  Collection  exhibited 
on  the  fifth  floor  of  the  "New  Building"  (University  Hall).  It  was 
for  many  years  the  show  place  of  the  University,  and  visitors  were  al- 
ways taken  to  it.  Very  often  even  those  from  far  distance  inquired  for  it, 
because  its  fame  was  widespread.  And  the  influence  it  exerted  in  regard 
to  culture  and  taste  was  certainly  considerable.  There  are  those  of  the 
student  body  of  the  70s  and  80s  wdio  now  assert  their  whole  lives  have 
been  different  from  what  they  would  otherwise  have  been  on  account  of 
this  art  collection. 

It  owed  its  existence  to  Doctor  Gregory's  personal  efforts.  He 
started  the  original  movement,  made  personal  contributions  for  it, 
received  subscriptions  from  others  after  his  presentations,  devoted  to  it 
the  proceeds  of  lectures  and  entertainments,  and  with  the  money  thus 
secured — about  $4,000 — went  to  Paris  at  his  own  expense  and  purchased 
the  very  excellent  collection  of  casts  of  famous  sculptural  pieces,  the 
large  number  of  engravings  and  other  instructive  art  objects.  He  asked 
of  the  Trustees  a  little  money  for  fitting  the  room  and-  installing  the 
objects ;  otherwise  the  expenses  Avere  provided  as  has  been  told. 

When  the  room  was  urgently  demanded  for  other  purposes  the 
pieces  were  distributed  Avidely  in  University  rooms,  and  because  they 
are  now  so  disseminated  they  make  no  impression.  So  true  is  this  last 
that  it  is  commonly  supposed  they  are  mostly  lost.  This  is  not  true. 
They  can  be  largely  gathered  again  and  will  make  a  good  beginning  for 
a  new  collection. 

LOOKING  TOWARD   THE  FUTURE 

It  is  umvise  to  try  to  predict  at  this  time  what  the  building  details 
will  be  or  what  will  be  the  prominent  features  of  the  exhibit  to  be 
contained  therein.  A  pretty  good  answer  to  such  an  inquiry  is  to  be 
found  in  the  outcome  of  a  very  similar  project  now  well  on  in 
development  on  the  campus  of  the  University  of  Michigan — an  Alumni 
Memorial  Hall,  dedicated  May  11,  1910.  It  cost  $206,000  of  which  there 
was  raised  by  an  alumni  committee  the  sum  of  $156,000,  and  that  of 
$50,000  was  contributed  by  the  Board  of  Regents  with  the  understanding 
that  the  building  should  to  some  extent  house  distinctively  University 
affairs.  The  Alumni  Association  has  headquarters  in  the  building  and 
a  general  reading  room  open  to  all  also  has  a  place  here.  A  large  sized 
Faculty  club  room  in  the  basement  is  found  to  be  very  useful.  A  lecture 
room  for  the  department  of  Art  and  Design  is  also  provided,  and  a  fine 
skydighted  Sculpture  Gallery  is  at  present  used  for  public  assemblies. 

Otherwise  the  building  is  for  art  exhibitions  and  the  collections 
now  in  place  represent  a  value  beyond  that  of  the  cost  of  the  building. 
The   "LeAvis  Collection"  of  paintings  is  prominent  among  these.     As 

7 


one  enters  the  wide  entrance  hall  attention  is  at  once  directed  on  the 
right  to  a  fine  bronze  bas-relief  of  President  Angell  and  to  a  similar  one 
on  the  lei't.  just  unveiled,  <>i'  President  Tappan.  the  first  executive.  There 
is  space  on  the  walls  of  this  noble  hall  for  a  dozen  such  large  medallion 
figures  and  in  time  they  will  contribute  an  imposing  but  finely- 
appropriate  affect. 

The  attractive  building  and  its  abundantly  interesting  contents 
constitute  something  to  be  proud  of  on  the  part  of  those  contributing 
to  the  fund  by  which  the  creation  became  possible.  The  largest 
subscription  towards  the  building  was  $10,000.  Some  three  years  were 
required  to  complete  the  canvass  made  by  the  members  of  the  memorial 
committee  wholly  without  financial  compensation. 

THE  FINANCIAL  CAMPAIGN 

Of  course  it  is  thoroly  understood  that  it  will  require  a  vigorous, 
persistently  pushed  campaign,  and  a  hearty,  sacrificing  response  to 
secure  pledges  adding  up  the  sum  named  for  the  memorial  as  planned. 
It  is  a  large  undertaking,  a  very  large  financial  proposition,  which  cannot 
be  contemplated  without  some  trepidation,  and  cannot  be  made  a  success 
without  the  willing  assistance — helping  to  the  hurting  point — of 
practically  every  one  to  whom  application  is  naturally  made.  But  with 
a  combined,  united,  fervent,  heart-compelled,  love-inspired,  effort, 
magnificent  results  are  sure  to  follow,  and  the  sacrifice  to  the  individual 
will  be  lost  in  the  glory  of  the  great  general  accomplishment.  And 
again,  let  it  be  said,  that  the  financial  and  material  measure  will  be  far 
outdone  by  the  fraternal  and  filial  benefits  which  the  former  merely 
serves  to  set  forth,  in  the  only  language  capable  of  adequate  and 
universal  interpretation.  In  the  contributions  one  may  have  only  a 
small  share ;  in  the  full,  grand  benefit  and  blessing  each  may  claim  the 
whole.  Each  contributor  in  money  may  say  of  the  whole,  "This  in 
affectionate  good  will  is  my  memorial  gift.'' 

The  campaign  for  money  may  be  said  not  to  have  begun,  tho  an 
announcement  of  grandly  inspiring  moment  is  otherwise  to  be  made  to 
the  assembled  Alumni  Association,  and  when  more  than  one  such  an 
initiatory  uplift  can  be  reported,  enthusiasm  sufficient  to  complete  the 
job  will  not  be  wanting ! 

S.  A.  Bullard,  Springfield,  Chairman 

Ira  0.  Baker,  Urbana 

T.  J.  Burrill,  Urbana 

H.  M.  Dunlap,  Savoy 

Fred  L.  Hatch,  Spring  Grove 

O.  W.  Hoit,  Geneseo 

J.  C.  Llewellyn,  Chicago 

Lorado  Taft,  Chicago 

Committee  on  Gregory  Memorial 
Prepared  for  the  Committee  by  T.  J.  Burrill. 

[Since  the  above  was  written  the  Trustees  have  formally  assigned 
the  site  described  in  the  foregoing  for  the  Gregory  Memorial  Building] 

8 


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PLATE  III. 


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PLATE  IV. 


12 


PLATE  V. 


13 


